Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 2 - Desert Survivor - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS,

AND I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME
OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES

IN THE MOST DANGEROUS
LOCATIONS ON EARTH,

WHERE HAVING
THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS

CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WHOO!

NOW I'VE COME TO THE SAHARA,
ONE OF THE HOTTEST

AND DEADLIEST PLACES
ON THE PLANET...

THAT IS JUST HUGE.

...TO MEET THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW JUST WHAT IT TAKES

TO SURVIVE OUT HERE.



THE NOMADIC BERBER TRIBES

HAVE LIVED HERE
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AND THEY'RE GONNA SHOW ME
IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE

SOME OF THEIR MOST EXTREME
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES --

HOW A DEAD CAMEL
CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...

GET INSIDE IT, PULL IT OVER.

...HOW THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES

FROM THEIR
VERY WORST ENEMIES...

FEAST ON THINGS
THAT WILL TURN YOUR STOMACH...

I'VE NEVER EATEN
RAW GOAT'S TESTICLES BEFORE.

...AND CLIMB MY WAY
OUT OF THE DESERT.

I'M FLYING ACROSS
THE SAHARA IN MOROCCO,

THE BIGGEST DESERT
IN THE WORLD,

WITH 3.5 MILLION SQUARE MILES.



IT'S ABOUT
THE SAME SIZE AS THE U.S.

THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS ARE YOUR
ONLY WAY OUT OF THE DESERT,

BUT THEY'RE
HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY,

SO YOU'LL NEED TO USE EVERY
TRICK IN THE BOOK TO SURVIVE.

I'VE GOT A FEW BASIC TOOLS,

AND MY CAMERA CREW
ARE COMING WITH ME.

I'M ABOUT 15 FEET
ABOVE THE HIGHEST DUNE,

AND I'M GONNA USE AN OLD
ARMY TECHNIQUE TO JUMP OUT,

KEEPING MY KNEES
AND FEET TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT THE MOST CONVENTIONAL
WAY TO LAND IN THE DESERT,

BUT IT'S FUN.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ SIGHS ]

[ COUGHS ]

THERE'S SAND EVERYWHERE.

THAT WAS JUST LIKE
A WHIRLWIND UP THERE.

WHEW. OKAY. WE'RE OFF.

THE DUNES ARE THE TOUGHEST KIND
OF DESERT TO SURVIVE IN

AND MAKE UP A QUARTER
OF THE SAHARA.

WATER IS YOUR BIGGEST PRIORITY,
BUT THERE'S HARDLY A DROP HERE.

BUT JUST THE TINIEST
MORSEL OF FOOD CAN HELP.

COME ON.

YOU SEE THAT?

A LITTLE SAND BEETLE.

AND WHEN THERE'S
AS LITTLE FOOD

AS THERE IS
IN THE SAHARA DESERT,

THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD
AS YOU'RE GONNA GET.

BUT THESE ARE PRETTY COMMON
IN THE DUNES.

[ GROANS ]

DON'T TASTE VERY NICE.

AH, BUT IT'S GONNA GIVE ME

A GOOD BIT OF PROTEIN
AND A BIT OF SALT.

[ CRUNCHING ]

[ GROANS ]

TASTES LIKE A...

PRAWN THAT'S FULL OF SAND,

BEEN SITTING AROUND
FOR ABOUT A MONTH,

FULL OF CHEESE.

[ SPITS ]

OH, GOD.

ANYWAY, AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING.

IT WILL ALSO REPLACE

ANY SALTS
YOU'VE LOST THROUGH SWEATING.

AND OUT HERE,
YOU CAN LOSE A LITER AN HOUR

WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING IT.

ONE OF THE DANGERS
OF THE SAHARAN WIND

IS THAT IT'S
EXCEPTIONALLY DRYING,

AND AS SOON AS YOU SWEAT,

THE WIND HITS IT,
AND YOU'RE DRY.

AND THEN YOU SWEAT AGAIN.

AND THAT'S WHY
YOU DEHYDRATE OUT HERE SO FAST.

IN THIS BLISTERING HEAT,
WITHOUT ANY WATER,

YOU CAN BE DEAD
WITHIN 24 HOURS.

IF YOU WERE LOST OUT HERE,

YOUR ONE REAL CHANCE
OF SURVIVAL

WOULD LIE WITH THE BERBERS.

THEY'VE LIVED NEAR
THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AND THEY'RE THE ULTIMATE
EXPERTS IN DESERT SURVIVAL.

DO YOU SEE THEIR CAMP
AROUND THE ACACIA TREE THERE?

WHAT I REALLY NEED
IS JUST A DRINK.

THEY HAVE RESCUED PLENTY
OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS,

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THEM.

BONJOUR.
BONJOUR.

çA VA?
çA VA.

MOHAMMED SPEAKS FRENCH

BECAUSE THIS AREA
WAS ONCE A FRENCH COLONY.

AS HE KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL,
WATER IN THE DESERT IS LIFE.

AND THE FIRST GIFT
FOR ANY VISITOR

IS TO GIVE THEM
A MUCH-NEEDED DRINK.

MERCI BIEN.

WHEW.

EVERY DAY, THEY SWEEP
THEIR CAMPS FOR SNAKES.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'VE GOT KIDS,

THEIR KIDS PLAYING
AROUND THE TENT.

AND THEY'VE GOT THEIR CAMELS

THAT REALLY
ARE THEIR LIVELIHOOD,

AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO
BE LOSING THOSE TO SNAKE BITES.

SO, MOHAMMED'S
GONNA TAKE ME OUT

AND SHOW ME HOW
THEY DO THEIR SNAKE HUNTS.

THE WHOLE AREA
IS HOME TO HORNED VIPERS,

THE SAHARA'S
MOST FEARSOME SNAKE.

AND THEY ARE A CONSTANT MENACE.

HE KNOWS OF ONE GUY
WHO HAS A YOUNG BOY, AGE 15,

LOOKING AFTER
THE CAMELS OUT HERE.

AND ONE MORNING,
THE CAMEL WENT DOWN, HE GOT OFF,

AND HE WAS PUTTING SOMETHING
AROUND THE LEG OF THE CAMEL.

AND AS HE REACHED DOWN,
A VIPER BIT THIS BOY'S FINGER.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S NO HOSPITAL OUT HERE.

THERE'S NO ANTIVENOM,
NO MEDICINE.

AND THEY HAD TO,
STRAIGHT THEN AND THERE,

JUST CUT THE FINGER OFF
TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS
THESE SNAKES CAN BE

AND HOW CAREFUL YOU'VE GOT TO BE

WHEN YOU'RE WALKING
THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF.

HORNED VIPERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY
DIFFICULT TO CATCH.

THEY'RE NOT JUST
WELL-CAMOUFLAGED,

BUT THEY BURROW UNDER THE SAND,
AND THEY'RE EASILY STEPPED ON

AND ARE
ALL TOO READY TO STRIKE.

AND THEY'LL OFTEN BE IN, LIKE,
THESE LITTLE CLUSTERS HERE

OR EVEN JUST BURIED IN THE SAND.

BUT WHAT
HE'S LOOKING FOR, REALLY,

ARE JUST THE SLITHER TRACES
OF WHERE THE SNAKE'S BEEN.

MOHAMMED'S GOT SOME TRACKS HERE.

YOU CAN SEE,
THAT'S A VERY DISTINCT SHAPE.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE --

LOOK, YOU CAN EVEN
SEE THE SCALES ON THIS.

I SEE HIM CURLED UNDER THERE.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE
RIGHT IN THERE,

YOU CAN SEE
THESE TWO LITTLE HORNS

ON TOP OF ITS HEAD.

AND THESE ARE ONE OF THE MOST
DEADLY SNAKES IN THE WORLD.

THAT CAN KILL YOU.

THEY GROW UP TO 3 FOOT LONG.

THEIR VENOM
POISONS YOUR BLOOD SYSTEM

AND CAN CAUSE
MASSIVE HEMORRHAGING,

LEADING TO A HEART ATTACK.

THE BERBERS
HAVE A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR THEM

AND ALWAYS USE STICKS
TO CATCH THEM.

OKAY, GOT HIM.

AND THERE YOU GO.
YOU CAN JUST SEE THE HEAD THERE.

BUT YOU WANT TO
BE REALLY CAREFUL.

EVEN AFTER
YOU'VE TAKEN THE HEAD OFF,

YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

THAT'S STILL GOT ALL ITS
HEMOTOXIC VENOM IN ITS MOUTH.

AND YOU NEVER JUST WANT TO
LEAVE A SNAKE'S HEAD

OUT IN THE OPEN
AFTER YOU'VE CUT IT OFF.

YOU WANT TO EITHER
BURN IT OR BURY IT.

THE VENOM CAN STILL BE TOXIC

24 HOURS AFTER
THE SNAKE HAS BEEN KILLED.

LOOK, HE'S STILL...

BODY'S STILL WRIGGLING AROUND.

BOY, THIS IS A NASTY BRUTE
AND A KILLER OF A SNAKE.

BUT I'M GONNA EAT HIM.

YOU JUST PEEL BACK THE SKIN,
GUT IT...

AND THAT'S ALL THE GUTS
COMING OUT THE MIDDLE THERE.

...WRAP IT AROUND A STICK,
AND COOK IT OVER THE FIRE.

OKAY, LET'S HAVE A LOOK
AT THIS, MOHAMMED.

AND A GOOD WAY
OF TELLING WHETHER IT'S COOKED

IS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SEE THE STRANDS OF THE MEAT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BURN THIS

'CAUSE, ACTUALLY,
IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL MEAT.

[ SPEAKING FRENCH ]

[ SPEAKING FRENCH ]

HE'S SAYING HE DOESN'T EAT THIS.
IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

BUT ALSO I KNOW THEY'RE REALLY
SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT SNAKES.

AND THEY ACTUALLY CONSIDER,
IF YOU KILL ONE,

IT'S LIKE KILLING AN ENEMY.

MERCI, MOHAMMED.

[ SPEAKING FRENCH ]

BON APPéTIT.
MERCI.

CAMELS ARE THE KEY

TO BOTH WEALTH AND DESERT
SURVIVAL FOR THE BERBERS,

SO FINDING WATER IS CRUCIAL.

EVERY BERBER HAS A MENTAL MAP
OF JUST WHAT'S WHERE.

AND THIS IS A REAL SKILL
OF THESE BERBER FAMILIES.

THIS KNOWLEDGE
IS JUST PASSED DOWN

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION,

OF KNOWING WHERE
THESE WELLS ARE IN THE DESERT,

THESE UNDERGROUND
POCKETS OF WATER.

AND IT'S THAT KNOWLEDGE
THAT REALLY MEANS THESE GUYS

ARE THE ULTIMATE
SAHARA DESERT SURVIVORS.

FOR THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF FOOD,
THE BERBERS RELY ON GOATS.

AND THIS ONE IS KILLED
USING A TRADITIONAL METHOD.

[ GOAT BLEATS ]

AND REALLY,
WITH SKINNING CARCASSES,

YOU WANT TO TRY AND USE
AS LITTLE KNIFE AS POSSIBLE.

AND ONCE YOU'RE IN,
YOU CAN JUST USE YOUR FIST,

AND YOU, LIKE, ROLL IT.

AND MOHAMMED'S KINDLY OFFERED

TO HELP ME MAKE A WATER GOURD
OUT OF THIS SKIN.

SO WE'RE GONNA
DRY THIS OVERNIGHT

AND MAKE SOMETHING
THAT I CAN CARRY WATER WITH

WHEN I CARRY ON
MY JOURNEY TOMORROW.

NOTHING WILL GO TO WASTE.

AND WHEN I SAY NOTHING,
I MEAN NOTHING.

HE'S GONNA CUT INTO THAT,

AND THEN HE'S GONNA
EAT ONE OF THEM.

AND THEN, IN HONOR OF HIS GUEST,

HE WANTS TO GIVE ME
THE OTHER ONE.

[ CLEARS THROAT ]

IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR BERBER MEN
TO EAT GOAT'S TESTICLES.

THEY'RE THOUGHT
TO ENHANCE FERTILITY,

AND IT'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE
A TEST OF MY MANHOOD.

MERCI. MERCI.

NO.

I MUST SAY,
I'VE NEVER...

NEVER EATEN RAW GOAT'S
TESTICLES BEFORE.

MERCI, MOHAMMED.

[ SQUISHING ]

[ GAGS ]

MMM.

[ GAGS, COUGHS ]

OKAY, MOHAMMED. SORRY
ABOUT THAT. LET'S CARRY ON.

I'M SPENDING THE NIGHT
WITH THE BERBERS

BEFORE VENTURING BACK OUT
INTO THE ARID DESERT.

[ MEN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW
NIGHTS I'VE HAD IN THE WILD,

AH, THAT IS JUST BLISS.

YOU KNOW,
I CAN REALLY AFFORD TO RELAX.

I'VE HAD GOOD COMPANY
WITH ALL OF THESE BERBER GUYS.

I'VE HAVE FOOD.
I'VE HAD WATER, EVEN SOME TEA.

AND I'M JUST LYING,
LOOKING AT THE STARS.

THAT IS GOOD.

AFTER BREAKFAST,
IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

BUT THERE'S A PARTING GIFT
FROM MOHAMMED,

SOMETHING I'LL NEED
FOR MY NEXT DESERT CHALLENGES.

AH, THE WATER GOURD.

THANKS, MOHAMMED.

MERCI BIEN.
WE'LL SEE YOU.

AND IT'S GOT A LITTLE
BIT OF WATER IN IT.

AND IF YOU HAD TO
MAKE YOUR WAY OUT FROM HERE,

YOUR BEST BET IS TO STILL
KEEP HEADING TOWARDS THE ATLAS,

AND THE WAY TO DO THAT

IS TO KEEP THE ACACIA TREES
IN FRONT OF YOU.

THEY TEND TO GROW
TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS.

AND THEN THE TAMARISK
THAT LIKE THE DUNES, BEHIND YOU.

MERCI.

I'VE NOW BEEN CUT LOOSE BY
THE BERBERS TO FEND FOR MYSELF

IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S
HARSHEST ENVIRONMENTS.

BUT THEY'VE LEFT ME
WITH THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE.

THE BERBER
HAVE GIVEN ME THIS CAMEL,

AND THEY'LL ALMOST ALWAYS
KILL AN OLD BEAST LIKE THIS

WHEN IT'S ON ITS LAST LEGS,

RATHER THAN
LET IT SUFFER TOO MUCH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL USE
EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THIS ANIMAL,

NOT ONLY, THOUGH, FOR FOOD,

ALSO FOR WATER AND,
IN EXTREMITY, FOR SHELTER.

I'M GONNA START BY SKINNING
THIS CAMEL FOR A BLANKET,

AS I WANT TO SET UP CAMP
BEFORE NIGHTFALL.

I'VE GOT
AROUND THREE HOURS TO DO IT.

AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS GRAB A GOOD BIT OF SKIN...

...AND THEN JUST GET INTO IT.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE IN,
A GOOD WAY OF DOING IT

IS PUTTING YOUR FINGER
LIKE THAT, OVER THE KNIFE,

'CAUSE WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID
IS PUNCTURING THE ACTUAL GUTS.

AND THEN JUST SLIDE IN.

IT'S HARD WORK DOING IT

IN THIS SEARING HEAT OF
AROUND 130 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

AND I'M SWEATING BUCKETS.

BUT THE HUMP
MIGHT JUST HELP ME.

AND THE BERBER ACTUALLY TOLD ME

THAT THE FAT FROM THIS
IS A REAL DELICACY.

BUT EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME

TO BE A LITTLE BIT WARY
OF BERBER DELICACIES.

AND THIS IS JUST...

PURE CAMEL FAT.

[ GAGS, SPITS ]

OH, MAN.

THAT'S HORRIBLE.

[ SPITS ]

IN EXTREME SITUATIONS,

THE FAT FROM THE HUMP
OF A LIVING CAMEL

WILL SAVE A BERBER'S LIFE.

THEY CUT A FLAP OF SKIN
AND FATTY HUMP

AND CAREFULLY
TAKE OUT WHAT THEY WANT,

MAKING SURE THEY LEAVE ENOUGH
FOR THE CAMEL TO SURVIVE.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
IS THE STOMACH.

AND THE STOMACH, ITSELF,
IS IN THREE PARTS

SO IT CAN SEPARATE
THE LIQUIDS FROM THE SOLIDS.

AND THE BIT I WANT
IS CALLED THE RUMEN,

WHERE IT KEEPS THE FLUIDS.

THERE WE GO.

I'M THROUGH...

[ INSECTS BUZZING ]

...TO THE INNARDS HERE.

LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S AMAZING.

IT'S LIKE A RESERVOIR,
THIS RUMEN WATER.

AND A NOMAD TOLD ME ONCE

HOW HIS UNCLE,
IN THE 1950s,

WAS LOST
IN A SANDSTORM OUT HERE.

AND HE ACTUALLY
ENDED UP KILLING HIS CAMEL

TO GET AT THE RUMEN
AND ALL THIS FLUID INSIDE,

AND THAT ACTUALLY
SAVED HIS LIFE.

IF YOU DON'T FIND
MUCH WATER IN THE RUMEN,

YOU MIGHT GET SOME FROM
THE MAIN PART OF THE STOMACH,

WHERE THE FOOD IS DIGESTED.

[ GAGS, COUGHS ]

GOT A LOAD OF STENCH...

OF CAMEL-DIGESTED FOOD
STRAIGHT UP MY NOSTRILS.

AND HERE YOU GO.

IF YOU BRING THE CAMERA
OVER HERE AND LOOK INSIDE,

YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING
THAT IT'S BEEN EATING.

AND THAT'S
JUST PARTIALLY DIGESTED.

[ GAGS ]

AND THE FLUID IN THIS,
AGAIN, IS DRINKABLE.

THAT MUST HAVE HURT
WHEN IT WENT DOWN HIS THROAT.

[ SPITS ]

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

DRINKABLE,
BUT TRULY...

DISGUSTING.

THERE ARE NO LESS THAN
200 FEET OF INTESTINES AND GUTS

THAT I HAVE TO HAUL OUT.

OKAY, IT'S ALL JUST
BEING HELD ON AT ONE POINT NOW.

I HAVE TO HOLD MY BREATH,
GET IN THERE, AND CUT IT.

WHEW, STINKS.

[ INHALES DEEPLY ]

UGH, I GOT IT!

YOU NEED TO DRAG THIS LOT
WELL AWAY FROM THE CARCASS,

IN THE HOPE THAT PREDATORS
LIKE JACKALS STAY AWAY.

I DON'T WANT THEM BOTHERING ME
WHEN I SLEEP OUT TONIGHT.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

NOW I NEED TO TURN THE CAMEL
OVER TO SKIN THE OTHER SIDE.

NEVER GOT MY LEG OVER
WITH A CAMEL BEFORE...

[ GRUNTING ]

...BUT I HAVE NOW.

I'VE BEEN BUTCHERING NOW
FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF,

AND ALREADY, THE FLESH HAS
VIRTUALLY COOKED IN THIS HEAT,

AND THE SKIN IS ALREADY DRYING.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

AND THAT IS WHAT'S
GONNA BE MY BLANKET TONIGHT.

AND IF YOU COME AND HAVE A LOOK
INSIDE THE CARCASS --

THE BERBERS COULD USE THIS

AS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER
IN A SANDSTORM.

AND ALL THEY'D DO IS...

GET INSIDE IT, PULL IT OVER...

AND I'LL BE 100% PROTECTED
FROM THE SAND.

JACKALS MIGHT WELL BE
ATTRACTED TO THE CARCASS,

SO IN ORDER TO PROTECT
THE MEAT AND MYSELF,

I'M GONNA PEE AROUND IT
TO DETER THEM.

THAT'LL SORT 'EM OUT.

IT'S WORTH KNOWING THAT
IT ONLY WORKS WITH BLOKE'S PEE.

IT DOESN'T WORK
IF YOU'RE A WOMAN,

'CAUSE YOUR PEE DOESN'T
HAVE ENOUGH TESTOSTERONE.

SO, BAD LUCK, GIRLS.

IF YOU NEED TO PEE LATER,

JUST KEEP TOPPING UP
YOUR LINE OF DEFENSE.

AND NOW ALL I'VE GOT TO DO
IS TO MAKE MY BED.

I CAN THEN LAY THIS DOWN.

NOW I'VE GOT A PILLOW,

SOMETHING
TO KEEP ME OFF THE ROCKS

AND KEEP ME WARM...

IF I NEED TO.

BEFORE BEDDING DOWN
FOR WHAT'S PROBABLY SHAPING UP

TO BE ONE OF MY LEAST-PLEASANT
NIGHTS OUT UNDER THE STARS,

I'M GONNA TRY AND GET
A FIRE GOING TO COOK SOME MEAT.

AND CAMEL DUNG IS PERFECT FUEL
BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO DRY.

AND ALL OF THIS
IS JUST BEAUTIFUL, FRESH MEAT.

AND YOU WON'T GET A
BETTER-LOOKING STEAK THAN THAT.

A FLAT STONE OVER THE FIRE

IS THE DESERT VERSION
OF A BARBECUE.

I KEEP FEEDING
THE CAMEL DUNG IN.

CAMEL MEAT
IS LOW IN CHOLESTEROL,

AND THIS
IS A RARE DESERT FEAST.

I RECKON THIS SHOULD BE READY.

I THINK
IT WAS QUITE AN OLD CAMEL.

AFTER THREE AND A HALF HOURS
OF HARD WORK,

WHAT I NEED NOW IS JUST TO REST

AND RECHARGE MY BATTERIES
FOR WHATEVER LIES AHEAD.

BUT IF I KIND OF THINK BACK

TO A LOT OF THE GREAT
SURVIVAL STORIES

I'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS,

ONE THING
THAT RUNS THROUGH THEM

IS OFTEN THAT THOSE
WHO SURVIVE NIGHTMARE SITUATIONS

ARE THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED

TO STEP OUTSIDE
OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE

AND DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO

TO MAKE IT BACK IN ONE PIECE
AND MAKE IT HOME.

AND AS A PILLOW,
I'VE GOT A DEAD CAMEL'S NECK.

I'D NEVER GET THIS ONE
PAST THE WIFE.

THIS IS GONNA
BE ONE LONG NIGHT,

AND TEMPERATURES HERE
CAN PLUNGE TO FREEZING.

[ GROANS ]

WELL, IT'S ABOUT
6:00 IN THE MORNING,

AND THE SUN'S JUST COMING UP.

THANK GOD,
'CAUSE I AM REALLY COLD.

AND IT'S AMAZING HOW COLD
IT GETS AT NIGHT IN THE DESERT.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THIS,

BUT I JUST CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE THE SUN.

ALL OF THIS, NOW,
IS JUST ONE GIANT SALT PAN,

AND IT STRETCHES FOR MILES
AND MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION.

AND 10,000 YEARS AGO,

THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN UNDER THE SEA.

BUT NOW IT'S JUST THIS CRUST
OF, LIKE,

GLISTENING SALT AND MINERALS.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO BRIGHT

AND WHY IT'S SO
SEARINGLY HOT HERE.

IT'S 20x30 MILES,

TOTALLY BARREN, TOTALLY
EXPOSED, AND TOTALLY TOXIC.

NOTHING GROWS.
THERE'S NOT A DROP OF WATER.

AND DON'T GET EXCITED
BY THESE TIRE TRACKS.

THIS PLACE ONLY BRIEFLY
COMES ALIVE ONCE A YEAR,

AND IT'S NOT NOW.

THAT'S ALL FROM
THE PARIS-DAKAR RALLY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST
AND TOUGHEST RACES IN THE WORLD,

AND IT PASSES ALL THE WAY

THROUGH MOROCCO
AND WESTERN SAHARA.

AND THERE WAS ONE BIKER
WHO CRASHED.

HE SMASHED UP HIMSELF
AND HIS BIKE,

AND HE KNEW THEN
HE WAS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

BUT IT WAS ONLY 'CAUSE
A BERBER FOUND HIM

AND MANAGED TO HELP HIM

THAT HE SURVIVED
TO TELL THE TALE.

HE WAS LUCKY TO BE RESCUED.

BUT IF YOU'RE
STRANDED OUT HERE ALONE,

YOUR ONLY WAY OUT
ARE THE FOOTHILLS

OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS.

THEY MAY LOOK CLOSE,

BUT CROSSING EVEN SHORT
DISTANCES IN THIS SALT PAN

CAN KILL YOU.

ON FLAT GROUND LIKE THIS,

YOU CAN UNDERESTIMATE DISTANCE
BY A FACTOR OF THREE.

AND THEY JUST DON'T
SEEM TO BE GETTING ANY NEARER.

IT'S A BLISTERING 130 DEGREES.

IT'S PHYSICALLY DRAINING.

BUT IT'S THE HAVOC

THIS HEAT, HAZE, AND FLAT
TERRAIN PLAYS WITH YOUR MIND

THAT CAN KILL YOU.

THAT'S A MIRAGE THERE.
STRAIGHT THERE ON THE HORIZON.

SEE ALL THAT SHIMMERING?

LOOKS JUST LIKE
A BIG POOL OF WATER.

AH, BUT I CAN ALMOST
GUARANTEE YOU IT'S NOT.

ALL IT IS, IS THE BLUE SKY
REFLECTING IN THAT HEAT HAZE.

AND THIS IS
A CLASSIC MIRAGE PLACE --

YOU KNOW, HUGE, FLAT, EMPTY,
AND BOILING-HOT SALT PANS.

GET TEMPTED OFF COURSE
BY A MIRAGE,

AND YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

THIS PLACE IS A BATTLEGROUND.

TO SURVIVE IT, YOUR
ONLY WEAPON IS SHEER WILLPOWER.

UH, LET'S HANG ON, GUYS.
HANG ON.

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS GLARE.

WE'RE GONNA BE SUN-BLIND
IF WE DON'T STOP.

PULL YOUR T-SHIRT
DOWN OVER YOUR EYES,

CUTTING SOME HOLES
TO SEE THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, AT ONCE,
THAT TAKES THE GLARE OFF IT

BECAUSE I'VE GOT DARK
ABOVE AND BELOW

AND JUST LITTLE SLITS
TO LOOK THROUGH.

IT'S AN OLD ARMY TRICK.

THE SUN COOKS YOUR CORNEA,

AND WITHIN HOURS,
YOU CAN GO BLIND.

IT'S LIKE HAVING
GLASS POKED IN YOUR EYES.

DON'T RISK IT.

THE OTHER PROBLEM
IS DEHYDRATION,

A KILLER
THAT CAN STRIKE IN HOURS.

IT'S SO UNBEARABLY HOT HERE

THAT YOUR SWEAT
EVAPORATES SO FAST

THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
YOU'RE LOSING VITAL FLUIDS.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU'RE DIZZY, NAUSEOUS,

AND YOUR BODY
STARTS TO FALL APART.

THAT'S THE LAST
OF THE WATER FROM THIS GOURD.

SO, IN THIS HEAT,

YOU NEED TO FIND MORE
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WELL, THE MORE
YOU DEHYDRATE OUT HERE,

THE MORE SALTS
AND MINERALS YOU LOSE.

AND ONE THING
YOU CAN DO IN THE SALT PAN

IS JUST USE SOME OF THE SALTS
ENCRUSTED IN THE GROUND.

MAYBE EVEN TUCK IT
UNDER YOUR TONGUE,

DROP IT IN A WATER BOTTLE,

AND THAT'S GONNA HELP REPLACE
SOME OF THOSE LOST SALTS.

[ INHALES DEEPLY ]

OKAY.

IT'LL BUY YOU TIME,

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED
TO GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL,

AS SOME SALT PANS
AREN'T JUST NORMAL SALT

LIKE YOU GET AT HOME.

SOME CAN BE MADE
OF CAUSTIC SODA,

WHICH YOU MUST NOT TOUCH,

AS IT CAN BURN YOUR SKIN
AND BLIND YOU.

YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE,

AS CAUSTIC SODA FEELS SOAPY
TO THE TOUCH WHEN IT'S WET.

THAT'S THE END
OF THE SALT PAN AHEAD.

I SEE THE FOOTHILLS, AS WELL.

AND REALLY,
IF YOU WERE STUCK OUT HERE,

THAT'S WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO HEAD.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GET
OFF THIS SALT PAN

'CAUSE, REALLY,
THIS PLACE IS HELL.

BUT EVEN IF YOU REACH

THE FOOTHILLS
OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS,

IT'S FAR FROM OVER.

THE NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO
FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THEM.

THIS IS DEFINITELY LOOKING LIKE

A BREAK RUNNING
THROUGH THIS ESCARPMENT.

SO, I'M JUST GONNA FOLLOW THIS
AND SEE WHERE IT LEADS.

THESE FALLEN BOULDERS
HAVE BEEN WEATHERED

OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE LOOSE ROCKS
ARE TRICKY TO NEGOTIATE,

AND IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO
TWIST YOUR ANKLE...OR WORSE.

HARD PLACE TO STAY ALIVE.

I REALLY THOUGHT THIS GULLY
WOULD JUST LEAD TO WATER,

BUT IT'S JUST LEAD TO THIS.

IT'S TRICKY,
AND THE SENSIBLE THING

WOULD BE TO GO BACK DOWN
THE GULLY.

BUT I'M GONNA GIVE IT A GO
JUST 'CAUSE I CAN.

[ GROANS ]

KEEP TO THE LEDGES AND SHELVES.

TAKE IT STEADY BEFORE
A QUICK SCRAMBLE UP TO THIS --

A DRIED RIVERBED.

WHAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE OUT HERE

IS THAT YOU'RE JUST AS LIKELY
TO BE KILLED IN THE DESERT

BY FLASH FLOODS
AS YOU ARE BY DEHYDRATION.

AND THIS IS CLASSIC
FLASH-FLOOD TERRAIN,

WHERE YOU GET
THESE DRY RIVERBEDS.

AND IT CAN RAIN
UP TO 100 MILES AWAY,

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S BEAUTIFUL WEATHER HERE,

AND WATER WILL RACE DOWN

WITH, LIKE,
THE ROAR OF A JET ENGINE

AND JUST WIPE OUT
ANYTHING IN ITS PATH.

YOU'RE AT YOUR MOST VULNERABLE
IN THE SUMMER,

WHEN ANY DOWNPOUR
CAN BE VICIOUS.

JUST LAST YEAR,
THE DESERT VILLAGE OF MERZOUGA

WAS DESTROYED BY FLASH FLOODS.

6 PEOPLE DIED,
AND 1,200 WERE LEFT HOMELESS.

THERE'S NOT
A DROP OF WATER FOR ME.

I'M MORE LIKELY TO FIND SOME
ON THE VALLEY FLOOR,

BUT IT'S GETTING DOWN THERE
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT IS JUST HUGE.

MY CHALLENGE IS TO SOMEHOW
FIND A WAY DOWN THIS MONSTER

AND FIND WATER.

THIS MUST BE 500 FOOT,

FROM THE TOP
ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

BUT WHAT I CAN SEE OUT THERE
LOOKS LIKE WADIS.

AND WADIS MEAN WATER.

THERE'S SO LITTLE
IN THIS EXTREME ENVIRONMENT,

YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED
TO DO ANYTHING TO GET TO IT.

I'VE JUST GOT TO
FIND A WAY TO GET DOWN.

I RECKON THIS
IS JUST ABOUT POSSIBLE.

RISKY, BUT POSSIBLE.

OKAY. PASS THE CAMERA.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

DOWNCLIMBING IS SO OFTEN...

MORE DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT
THAN CLIMBING UP,

JUST BECAUSE
IT'S MUCH LESS NATURAL.

THIS STUFF IS ALL SO LOOSE.

IT'S ALL SANDSTONE, WHICH,
IN THE CLIMBER'S BOOK,

IS A NIGHTMARE TO CLIMB ON.

ONE SLIP ON THIS STUFF

COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY
AND PROBABLY DEATH,

SO YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH
EVERY HAND- AND FOOTHOLD.

TAKE IT CAREFULLY.

IF YOU GET STUCK,

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
CLIMB BACK UP OR MAKE IT DOWN.

IT'S WHAT WE CALL
BEING RIMROCKED.

AND THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME
BEFORE, IN NEW ZEALAND CLIMBING.

AND IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING.

GOD, THIS WHOLE THING'S
JUST COLLAPSING.

I'VE JUST GOT
THIS LAST LITTLE BIT

OF A CHIMNEY CLIMB
DOWN THERE.

WHEN YOU'RE DOING ONE OF THESE,

USE THE OPPOSING WALLS,
WITH YOUR FEET ON EACH SIDE,

AND JUST SLOWLY
INCH YOUR WAY DOWN.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OKAY, I'M DOWN OFF THAT.

AND IT'S LOOKING
MUCH BETTER FROM HERE.

MORE OF LIKE A SCREE CLIMB
DOWN TOWARDS THE WADIS.

AND I REMEMBER, AS A KID,

MY LATE DAD ALWAYS
USED TO TAKE ME CLIMBING.

AND I THINK,
IF I'M HONEST, AT THAT AGE,

IT WAS AS MUCH ABOUT
JUST WANTING TO BE CLOSE TO HIM

AS IT WAS
ABOUT THE ACTUAL CLIMBING.

I DIDN'T NECESSARILY ENJOY BEING
COLD AND WET UP A MOUNTAIN,

BUT I DID LOVE
HANGING OUT WITH HIM.

AND IT'S FUNNY HOW THE WILDS

CAN SO OFTEN CREATE SUCH
STRONG BONDS BETWEEN PEOPLE.

IT CAN ALSO BRING OUT
THE BEST IN YOU,

AS SO OFTEN,
YOU'LL FIND HIDDEN STRENGTHS

YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED.

BUT FOR NOW, I NEED WATER.

THERE'S GOT TO BE
A WADI SOMEWHERE NEARBY.

THE HEAT IS BLISTERING.

I MUST PROTECT MY HEAD.
OTHERWISE, I'M GONNA COOK.

BUT WHERE I'M HEADING IS THERE,
TO THAT GORGE.

AND WHAT I'M HOPING

IS THAT I'LL BE ABLE
TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THIS WATER

AND ALSO SOME GOOD SHADE.

THESE OLEANDER BUSHES
GROW NEAR WATER.

BUT STAY WELL CLEAR.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL BUT DEADLY.

WHAT MAKES THEM OLEANDER

IS THE VERY DISTINCTIVE
FIVE PETALS THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT ALL OF THIS BUSH
IS POISONOUS --

THE FLOWERS,
THE LEAVES, EVEN THE SAP.

LOOK, IF YOU LOOK DOWN HERE,
ALL OF THIS WHITE STUFF,

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE DRIED-OUT
SAP FROM THE OLEANDER.

SO IF THERE'S
ANY WATER AROUND HERE,

IT WOULD BE UNDRINKABLE.

SO I NEED TO FIND
A DIFFERENT WATER SOURCE.

THEY'RE NASTY, THOSE PLANTS.

VOMITING,
BLOODY DIARRHEA, AND TREMORS

ARE THE LEAST THEY CAN DO.

PUTTING YOU INTO A COMA
IS THE WORST.

AND OUT HERE ALONE,
THAT MEANS DEATH.

GET HIGHER
TO SEARCH FOR FRESHWATER.

USE THE WILDLIFE
TO FIND A SAFE SOURCE.

UP THERE, LOOK. BIRDS.

SEE? JUST AT THE HEAD
OF THE GULLY THERE.

SEE THEM?

AND THAT
IS A REALLY GOOD INDICATOR

THERE MUST BE
WATER SOMEWHERE NEARBY.

THEY LIKE TO DRINK
IN THE EARLY MORNING

AND IN THE EARLY EVENING.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

AND ACTUALLY,
YOU CAN ALSO HEAR THEM.

LISTEN TO THAT.

YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY
WHERE I'M HEADED.

WAH!

LOOK AT THIS!

AHH.

FRESH, COLD, CLEAN WATER
RUNNING STRAIGHT DOWN HERE.

I'LL FILL UP THIS
AND MY WATER BOTTLE.

HEY, LOOK. LOOK DOWN THERE.
LOOK. SEE THAT?

THAT FROG.

WHERE IS HE?

GOD, THEY'RE FAST
LITTLE THINGS, THESE.

THERE HE IS!

[ GRUNTS ]

THERE HE IS. SEE THAT?

SO, I'VE GOT WATER,
AND I'VE GOT FOOD.

AND THIS
IS A LITTLE SAHARAN FROG,

AND I KNOW HE'S GOOD TO EAT.

AND I CAN TELL HE'S SAHARAN.
HE'S GREEN.

HE'S GOT THESE LITTLE, WHITE
SPOTS ON THE BACK OF HIS LEGS.

IF THIS WAS BRIGHTLY COLORED
OR HAD A BIG "X" ON ITS BACK,

I WOULDN'T WANT TO EAT THIS.

BUT THIS IS EDIBLE.

[ CRUNCHING ]

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

AND I'LL SQUEEZE WHAT REMAINS
OF THE GUTS OUT OF HIM.

AND THEN ALL OF THAT
IS GOOD TO EAT AS WELL.

REFUELED NOW FOR WHAT'S AHEAD,
AND I'M GONNA NEED IT.

I'VE JUST REACHED
A DEAD END HERE.

LOOK, IT'S JUST SHEER WALLS
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW I'M GONNA GET OUT OF THIS.

WELL, MY BEST CHANCE

IS GONNA BE THESE SERIES
OF BUTTRESSES ALONG THERE,

MAYBE THAT END ONE.

SEE IF I CAN GET UP THERE

AND FOLLOW THAT SKYLINE
ALL THE WAY UP.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

THESE BUTTRESSES ARE OFTEN
QUITE GOOD TO CLIMB,

JUST BECAUSE THEY PROTRUDE,
WHICH MEANS THEY GET WEATHERED.

AND WHERE IT'S WEATHERED,

YOU GET GOOD
HANDHOLDS AND FOOTHOLDS.

BUT ALL OF THIS IS LIKE A MIX

OF VOLCANIC AND THEN,
ALSO, SEDIMENTARY ROCK,

WHICH MEANS IT'S SHARP,
BUT ALSO QUITE LOOSE.

BUT I RECKON THIS IS DOABLE.

IT'S PRETTY EXTREME,

BUT IF YOU CAN,
GET UP AND OUT FAST.

A DETOUR AROUND THE GORGE WOULD
TAKE HOURS YOU CAN'T SPARE

IN THE BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.

OKAY, LET'S BRING
YOU UP THE EDGE HERE.

[ EXHALING SHARPLY ]

GOD, THIS STUFF'S ALL SO LOOSE.

OKAY, TAKE YOUR TIME, BEAR,
TAKE YOUR TIME.

GOD, THIS STUFF'S HORRIBLE.

AND LOOK,
I'VE GOT NICE GRIPS NOW.

STRAIGHT UP -- THIS RED.

[ GRUNTS ]

THE SAFEST TECHNIQUE

IS TO MAINTAIN THREE POINTS
OF CONTACT ON THE ROCK FACE

AT ALL TIMES.

THIS IS QUITE HIGH NOW.

LET'S CLEAR THIS BIT OFF HERE.

OKAY, TRY AND PASS THIS,
GET YOU OVER THE LIP.

COME ON. ANOTHER FOOT.
ANOTHER FOOT. ANOTHER FOOT.

OKAY, I'VE GOT IT.
I'VE GOT IT. OKAY.

LET'S GET YOU OVER THIS BIT.
GO FOR IT.

COMMIT TO IT.
NICE. OKAY.

GOT IT.

HAVE A LOOK OVER HERE.
SEE WHERE WE'VE COME.

STRAIGHT UP THERE.

WHEW!

CERTAINLY
MY HEART'S REALLY RACING.

THERE'S AN OVERHANG ABOVE,
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

THERE'S NO GOING BACK NOW.

LOOKS LIKE A LAST LITTLE BIT.

IF I CAN JUST GET OVER THAT LIP,
I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE TOP.

IT'S ACTUALLY
QUITE A NICE HANDHOLD, JUST...

JUST THERE.

OVERHANG CLIMBS ARE PUNISHING.

YOU RELY ENTIRELY ON
YOUR UPPER BODY TO PULL YOU UP.

AND IN THIS SEARING HEAT
OF 130 DEGREES,

YOU CAN EASILY GET
CRIPPLING CRAMPS IN YOUR ARMS,

WAVE AFTER WAVE OF THEM.

BUT HANG ON IN THERE.

QUITE A FEELING.
BUT I'M UP, OUT OF THIS CANYON.

AND LOOK, YOU CAN JUST SEE,
IT'S PRETTY FORMIDABLE HERE.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

OKAY, ON MY WAY.

WHOO!

YOU SHOULD SOON
PICK UP DUSTY TRACKS

WHICH WILL
LEAD YOU OUT OF HERE.

THIS MIGHT WELL BE
AN OLD CARAVAN ROUTE,

THE SORT OF THING THAT NOMADS

WOULD HAVE USED FOR CENTURIES
WITH THEIR CAMELS.

AH, BUT IF I FOLLOW THIS,

IT MIGHT WELL
LEAD ME TO A SETTLEMENT.

THESE PATHS WERE ONCE USED
TO CARRY GOLD, SALT, AND SLAVES

FROM THE SOUTH SAHARA.

AND THE BERBER
STILL USE THEM TODAY

AS TRADING ROUTES
AND FOR SHELTER.

YOU CAN SEE SOMEBODY'S
DEFINITELY BEEN HERE.

LOOK, THEY'VE MADE A LITTLE WALL
TO ACT AS A WINDBREAK.

AND THERE'S EVEN, LIKE,
GOAT DROPPINGS AND STUFF HERE.

SO SOMEBODY
HAS DEFINITELY USED THIS,

WHICH MEANS I'M PROBABLY
ON THE RIGHT TRAIL.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE LONG

BEFORE THERE'S THE BEST SIGHT
IN THE WORLD.

OH, BUILDINGS,
PALM TREES, AND PEOPLE.

AND THAT WOULD MEAN ONE THING --
YOU'RE SAFE.

BUT REALLY, TO BE STRANDED
OUT HERE ON YOUR OWN

IN THE SAHARA DESERT WOULD
BE A HELLISH PLACE TO SURVIVE.

THE CHALLENGES
OF THE SAHARA ARE EXTREME,

BUT IT'S THE KNOWLEDGE
AND SURVIVAL SKILLS

OF THE BERBER PEOPLE THAT
CAN HELP YOU GET OUT ALIVE.

THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS LEGENDARY,
AS IS THEIR HOSPITALITY.

BONJOUR.